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Clement Out For Season

Jeff Clement has a torn meniscus and will have surgery that will sideline him for the rest of 2008. The new general manager will have to be one to make the call, but at this point, moving Clement to first base seems like the right move. He’s pretty lousy behind the plate, and knee problems for a catcher aren’t a minor deal.

The problem with evaluating “defensive prowess” for catchers is that it’s pretty difficult to even say what that phrase means. It’s the only position where the ability to get balls and turn them into outs isn’t the primary responsibility. “Working with the pitchers” is hopelessly vague and impossible to judge. So you end up with… passed balls and caught stealing.

doorbot on
September 7th, 2008 9:24 pm

For what its worth, there have been talks of Clement not being able to catch forever – in high school, in college, when he was drafted, and at every stop along the way. This isnâ€™t something weâ€™re just bringing up now – his defense has always been a concern.

Damn you Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave!

bookbook on
September 7th, 2008 9:41 pm

I’ve been reading posts over at baseballthinkfactory about first the horrors of Pete Rose playing a 99 OPS+ 1st baseman (himself) in pursuit of the hits record. Then, the fact that Rose would have outhit 13 of the 1B’s and DHs of 2008. Thirteen!!! The average OPS for all 1B’s was only 109.

Clement as a 110-120 OPS+ first baseman for a handful of years would be a darn valuable commodity.

Not a superstar, but a plus contributor to championship teams potentially (if the Griffey-ARod-Edgar-Randy M’s had only had one!!!) Also worth more than the average result for his draft slot, I’d bet.

Breadbaker on
September 8th, 2008 12:47 am

Bookbook, I have no idea what you’re talking about. The M’s first basemen from 1995 to 1999 were Tino Martinez, Paul Sorrento and David Segui. All of them had OPS+ at or above the range you describe, except for Segui in 1999, who was shipped to Toronto and replaced by John Olerud the next year.